Australian prime ministers have been bullied by men with the Packer surname for decades. It’s been a distinctive part of the distasteful side of Australian politics throughout recent history.
Today, another PM has been verballed by another Packer. According to James — grandson of the ruthless Frank and son of the intimidating Kerry — our current prime minister is anti-business. “I think the problem for the Prime Minister at the moment is that while she keeps saying she’s pro-business,” he told today’s Australian Financial Review, “there is a real perception in the corporate world that she’s not.”
Let’s de-code those words. By “corporate world”, James Packer really means “gambling industry”. And by “anti-business” he really means “anti-gambling”.
The Packer who controls a $7.5 billion global gambling empire, and who stands to lose an estimated $300 million if the government’s proposed poker machine reforms are introduced, is doing what his dad and grandad taught him at their knees — kick PMs as hard as you can in the interests of Packer self-interest.
But in this case, Packer self-interest is unambiguously against Australia’s self-interest. You can bet on that.
Hear hear, well said…and UP YOURS Mr Packer.
Any relation to that “One.Tel James Packer” and those “services to business” of his?
Nothing like a bit of naked self interest. Well it has worked before hasn’t it?
He’ll have to buy his network back (at a substantial discount to it’s sale) if he wants his words to have weight.
Australian millionaires and billionaires on seem interested in a handful of things:
– gambling (not only creates no public good, but cause great public harm)
– media (controls information to the benefit of the owner)
– mining (does contribute to public good, but relies on making a profit from buying and selling state resources)
– property (distorts property prices)
At the same time the vast bulk of our machinery (eg cars, tractors), electronics, public utilities infrastructure and management (eg transport, telecommunications and energy), luxury clothing and medicines are imported! Not always from countries with a comparative wage and salary advantage either.
Doesn’t anyone make anything any more?